Texas recently awarded first-year manager Ron Washington a contract extension through 2009, and with the way the Rangers have played of late it’s easy to understand why. After a very poor start, the Rangers have gone 42-32 since June 14. They’ve won eight of their past 10. Washington was the longtime A’s infield coach before being hired by Texas in the offseason. … A big difference has been the way the Rangers have played in close games. Texas has won four straight one-run games and 11 of its past 15. … Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the highly touted catcher who came over from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira trade, has been on a tear recently. He’s hitting .364 with four homers and 11 RBI over his past 11 games.

(Click here if you are unable to view this photo gallery on your mobile device) The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek celebrates the life of its founder Ruth Bancroft who died at 109 on November 26, 2017. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a nonprofit public dry garden that was planted by Mrs. Ruth Bancroft in 1972 and was opened to the...